California Divorce Settlement Finalized for Mel Gibson

After more than two years of sometimes bitter negotiations, Mel Gibson and his wife, Robin Moore, have reached “a full agreement including dividing their property” in a comprehensive California settlement agreement, according to the celebrity-tracking website Showbiz Spy.

Because Gibson and Moore were together for nearly 29 years – from 1980 to 2009 – pretty much everything Gibson has earned over his long film career is subject to California’s community property laws, especially since it has been widely reported that the couple signed no prenuptial agreement. By some estimates Gibson’s wealth approaches $900 million, the website reports.

In addition to financial issues, the couple have also tangled over custody of their seven children, as I noted in a post last year. Gibson also has a two-year old child with his now-estranged ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he is also engaged in California family law litigation. Though few details of the Gibson-Moore agreement have made it into the public realm, Showbiz Spy reports the agreement is expected to achieve final approval from the Southern California divorce court judge hearing the couple’s case sometime next month.

The Gibson-Moore divorce offers a reminder that even particularly complex settlement issues can be resolved with a combination of perseverance and professional skill on the part of a Los Angeles or Orange County divorce and child custody lawyer. Southern California has seen a number of high-profile, high-net-worth divorces turn into expensive and protracted affairs in recent years. When the issues involved in an Orange County divorce are especially difficult, it can be reassuring to know that your attorney is with you for the long haul.